I grew up with pets in our home as part of the family and continued that tradition into my adulthood. During my lifetime I have enjoyed the companionship of multiple dog breeds, from an Afghan Hound, Dobis, a Rottweiler, and many mixed breeds. It is amazing how each one had their own distinct personality, but the one thing that they all had in common was their total unconditional love for everyone in the family. We lost our last beloved companion in 2014, a Whippet named Pyapya, after 16 years. A year later I retired from a long career in Healthcare IT and relocated from New York City to Beijing to join my partner who had relocated there for work. Unfortunately, we cannot not have a pet in Beijing. However we filled that void by volunteering with a local dog rescue organization that rescues dogs, which are primarily in route to the Chinese meat markets. We spent time with these amazing and resilient dogs during their rehabilitation and their wait for adoption abroad in Europe and North America. When I traveled abroad from China I always took as many dogs to their new adoptive countries as I was allowed. It was truly one of the the most rewarding experiences of my life to see these dogs come out of such horrid unimaginable conditions and have the opportunity to go to their forever homes abroad. I am currently staying in Decatur for an extended period of time while I plan for what comes next, and during that time, I am looking forward to the opportunity to provide the best care for your pets that they deserve as loving members of your family.